After shocking the Division III men’s lacrosse world earlier this season, the Elizabethtown College Blue Jays had their eyes fixed on another top 25 opponent to potentially upset as they took on #17 Swarthmore College. 

The Blue Jays are familiar with facing off against the #17 seed as they downed the formerly ranked Stevenson side in dramatic fashion, scoring a last second tying goal and defeating the home side in overtime. Etown hoped to repeat the history against the Phoenixes as they came into the contest 1-3. 

Swarthmore started the contest off with a bang, scoring back-to-back goals within 20 seconds of each other after winning the face off after their first goal. The Phoenixes added one more and looked to shut down the Blue Jays through the first quarter of action. A late goal by senior defender Jack Gress gave Etown their first goal of the contest with 13 seconds remaining in the quarter. 

Etown’s leading goalscorer on the season junior midfielder Reese Levinson put his name on the score sheet, scoring the opening goal of the second quarter to reduce the deficit to one goal. Swarthmore got back in the driver’s seat, scoring the next four straight goals and increasing their lead to five. Junior attacker Tristan Coleman opened his scoring in the afternoon, scoring with two minutes remaining in the half. Etown held onto the score as the Blue Jays were down by four heading into the second half. 

The Blue Jays found some footing in the third quarter, reducing the deficit to only one goal as two goals by Coleman led Etown back into the contest. Swarthmore’s late goal was matched by Gress as the Blue Jays were within one with 15 minutes remaining in regulation. Swarthmore added two goals early in the fourth quarter, however, the Blue Jays showed signs of life as Levinson finished off a hattrick with seven minutes to go. 

The Phoenixes took control of the game through the remainder of the fourth, scoring four goals in three minutes to take a commanding six goal lead. The Blue Jays didn’t have a lot of time, however, goals by Coleman and senior midfielder Jay Rodriguez gave Etown a chance late. Unfortunately for the Blue Jays, time expired in the fourth quarter as Etown fell to a ranked Swarthmore side, losing 15-11.

Coleman led the Blue Jays with four goals followed by Levinson with a hattrick and Gress with two goals. Rodriguez led the Blue Jays with three assists, and Coleman contributed Etown’s only other assist. First-year goalkeeper Ben Zaitz saved nine shots in the contest in the loss. 

The Blue Jays finished their spring break with a record of 1-5, hoping to regain some ground as the spring season continues. The Blue Jays will face off against Juniata College in their next home game on March 25 for their second Landmark Conference matchup of the season.